Letter: Bush leading us in bad direction

Thursday, April 3, 2003 | 9:16 a.m.

During World Wars I and II, as well as Korea and Vietnam, we fought an aggressor that actually invaded its neighbor. For what specific reason(s) American soldiers and countless civilians are dying each day in Iraq is unclear.

If it is to stop terrorism, then how is the transnational nature of terrorism ever to be addressed? If it is to remove Saddam, then are we going to invade the country of every "evil" dictator in the world?

If it is because Saddam gassed his own people, are we planning to undo our unflinching support for equally hateful despots over the years? And if it is to remove weapons of mass destruction, how are we going to deal with those marginally stable nations which have them now?

Our president, besides hammering us more deeply into an economic black hole, squandering international good will and worldwide support after 9-11, appears to be bent on continuing a costly corporate crusade that can end only in the creation of more terrorists, misery and loss of life for thousands more.

J. H. ESPERIAN